13th Annual

Christkindl Market
December 3 to 6, 2009

Thursday, December 3 through Sunday, December 6, 2009
at Kitchener City Hall
Kitchener ON Canada
~ FREE admission ~

"Willkommen! Welcome! We invite you to the sights, sounds and tastes of Christmas. Visit Canada's original Christkindl Market and relive a centuries-old tradition. Our festival of German Christmas is a 4-day festival, with over 70 vendors and free entertainment.

Christkindl Market committee together with City of Kitchener staff work throughout the year to provide
an experience for visitors young and old.                         CLICK PLAY > to watch our 30 sec. TV commercial 

I'm sure you'll make memories and you'll want to return to time and time again. Enjoy the ambience! Jeder ist herzlich Wllkommen. Good luck winning the Trip for 2 to Germany and many other wonderful prizes." - Astrid Braun, President

HOURS:  
Thurs. Dec. 3rd  from 10 am to 9 pm
Fri. Dec. 4th   from 10 am to 9 pm
Sat. Dec. 5th  from  9 am to 9 pm
Sun. Dec. 6th  from 10 am to 5 pm

Stan Kamzsol 2008 Grand Prize winner, writes:

"This trip to Germany was first class from the moment we left Toronto. The arrangements at the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg were world class. The staff made our visit to this very special hotel a once in a life time event. The city is nestled amongst canals and featured many interesting sites. We visited all of the key sites and had ample time to enjoy several local restaurants! Read the whole story and see other winners... (click here)  Trip was sponsored by German National Tourist Office, Lufthansa, Rail Europe

 
ALSO, CLICK PLAY > to watch Christkindl Market on ROGERS TV DAYTIME, Sonya Pratt talks with Susan Cook-Scheerer about the Kinderecke (craft centre) and the toys kids can build in the Home Depot Workshop.

In the NEWS! National Post

Eine Gute Nacht, by Rebecca Tucker. Published: Saturday, November 29, 2008

"...The annual Christkindl festival, which takes place this coming weekend in Kitchener, roughly one hour away from Toronto, makes no qualms about being one of those festivals of traditional Christmas cheer. However, it has a few perks that set it apart from similar seasonal events -- namely, it promises not to drain your pocketbook. "People often feel the crunch this time of year," says Monica Reid, Christkindl's marketing chair. "One of the biggest advantages we have as a festival, and one that really draws people in, is the fact that [all of the events and attractions] are free..." Read the complete article... (click here)

Explore our market. Share the joy. Plan to visit.

The sparkle of Christmas lights. The twirl of skaters. The sound of a choir singing Silent Night. Your breath clouds in front of you as you walk past stalls selling schinken, potato pancakes and fresh pastries, their delicious aromas inviting you to linger.

The colourful swirl of dancers and the melodious tolling of bells. There's nothing like music and dance to set the mood for some holiday magic.

In front of Kitchener City Hall, the crowd munches on Bratwurst and Lebkuchen (spice cake), while sipping steaming mugs of Gluwein (mulled wine). On stage, bellringers, dancers and musicians fill the square with the festive sounds of Christmas. Inside City Hall, vendors offer handcrafted and traditional gifts: ornaments, toys, jewelry, florals, ceramics, stained glass and carvings. Model trains journey through miniature landscapes at the model railway displays, while children enjoy the fun of creating their own Christmas crafts at the Kinderecke.

Imagine how much fun your family and friends will have when you start off your holiday season with a visit to Kitchener's Christkindl Market. As founder Tony Bergmeier says, "the joy is yours."

Subscribe now

For up-to-date news, events and information on how to WIN, subscribe to our e-Newsletter. Coming from out of town? Stay a while. There's lots to do in the area. Let us help you plan your trip with maps, brochures and helpful links.

Planning to visit our Market this year? Please tell us your story ... (click here)

Photos courtesy of Jan Pisarczyk at pirak.com.

Looking for that very special ornament.

"I took my daughter for the first time 5 years ago and what a special event this was for both of us. We visited the manger live nativity scene, it was beautiful. We listened to the Christmas music, I can't believe how just humming a little Christmas song can put you in such good spirits with yourself and others. Christmas time is the one time of the year that people actually look at others and smile, wishing them the very best. It's such a shame we can't be like this all throughout the year.

As we entered the building, just inside we saw so many beautiful Angels, then Santas from around the world, and finally there were so many beautiful ornaments to see, so unique to this event that you couldn't buy them anywhere else. What a memory.

My daughter and I attend this event each and every year like our own tradition, just for the 2 of us. It's a night out together to bond, celebrate the holidays and of course to look for that very special christmas ornament for this year. " - Karen McComish